Is This True?

Chapter 4

The life of an agent seemed much different than I thought.

After my long months of training, it was simple, easy rather. All I did was arrive at eight in the morning every day, not including the weekend, say good morning to Beth at the front desk regardless if she replied, continued my training, and sit inside my office and scan through files until it was time to go home.

I was rather bored actually since I hadn't been assigned a case yet, but I kept on hoping I would get one soon. I was dying for some action and so were all of my other fellow agents I have gotten to know. I guess, crime just wasn't a hot spot for this Iowa office. If this was New York, it'd be different.

Much different.

Anyway, I wasn't too sure how'd I react if something big were to ever happen like a shootout, a car, or a foot chase--something like that. I'd probably freeze up in terror before someone's yell would shake me back to reality. Like that'd look good for the rest of my future here. Getting fired after a week didn't seem to look good for my résumé.

Let's just hope that doesn't happen then.

"Jenn?"

I looked up from my laptop after hearing someone knock on my open door, my eyes blinking fast from staring at a screen for so long.

"Yes?"

"Could you do me a quick favor?"

My new friend, an agent, walked toward my desk while carrying a rather large handful of papers.

"I have a meeting downstairs to get to and I don't have time."

"Uhh, yeah, sure, of course." I situate my foot from underneath me as I closed my laptop shut.

"Thanks, Jenn."

Denise handed me the stack full of papers while waiting to make sure I got a firm grip on them. I didn't want to make her late for her meeting and I most certainly didn't want to reorganize everything either. I'm such a loving person, am I not?

"You're the best."

I only smiled, "Well, thanks."

Denise only waved it off before asking, "You remember where the room with all the printers, fax machines, and computers are and such?"

My mind suddenly drew to a blank. "I think so."

"Well, anyway, all you need to do is to print only these--"

She hands me a separate stack until giving me another one.
"--and fax these to this number. Make twenty copies of the first stack."
She pointed at the numbers written on top of a pink sticky note.

"And after you're done, just drop them off at my office. I should be back, but if I'm not, just lay them on my desk, that'll be fine."

"Okay, I'll be sure to do it."

"Thanks again, Jenn."

Denise smiled at me before I piped up just as she about walked out of the room,
"And where might your office be?"

It's sad, we were friends and I didn't even know where her own office was.

"It's on the floor above."

She answered, looking down to her wrist at her watch.
"Just find my name on the right side of the hall. If you can't find it, just ask Scott. He knows almost everything about this place."

Who?

Before I could ask, she turned the corner off to her meeting.

"Well, looks like I'm looking for two rooms and a person I've never been to or met," I thought.

Great.

"Just relax," I caught myself speaking out loud while walking down the hall, obviously not knowing where to go.

"This is good practice and yet, quite embarrassing."

After a good five minutes, I did find the room Denise was talking about. But I only assumed it was on the first floor since I expected it to be more convenient. After all, the conference room was down there as well.

Aha, so I was using my brain!

I printed the papers she wanted with ease, but after I finished, I only grew leery. How was I supposed to fax these? I've never used a fax machine in my life!

I started to panic. What if this is important? What if Denise could do these herself? What would that make me? I could ask for help. No, that'd make me less knowledgeable than I already am. No, I'll figure it out.

"Okay, just think logically," I whispered, sticking some papers in the slot. Typing on the keypad, I dialed the number just as the papers were copied through.

Yes! I did it!

Filled with peace, I faxed the rest of the papers and made copies of the other stack with less anxiety. Now that I figured out how to use it, all I needed to do was to find Denise's office. I've never been on the third floor so this was going to be a challenge. Unless I found Scott, whoever he is.

My reflexes were quicker than my brain, and I stopped short of a dark mass in front of me. A small shriek escaped me, but a quick apology instead.

"Oops--hi, sorry!"

I brushed past the younger man in a hurry just as I remember I had left the papers lying in the room.

I rushed back in and grabbed them, accidentally mixing the two stacks.

"Excuse me!"

Why couldn't I just stop running into people or let alone, stop being forgetful?

"Looks like you're in a hurry!" He called after me, closing the office door behind him and not even bothering to go inside.

"Just a little!"

More like, running away from complete and utter embarrassment. I didn't even allow him a chance to answer before piling into the elevator. Before the doors closed completely, I saw him on the other side of the hall talking with Beth, but it didn't matter because I was already on the third floor. A floor full of mystery because you know, I've never roamed these floors just until now.

The third floor looked almost identical compared to the one I was on, but this floor was a little bit cheerful in color. There was a large window on the opposite side of the hall which brought out the lighting in the room and also made the beige walls brighter compared to our gray ones. Rooms were on either side with phones ringing almost constantly and keyboards typing away. And also, with the smell of the small coffee shop not too far in distance, I wouldn't mind transitioning to this floor instead.

It reminded me of home. My home. My family. My friends.

But just as I was about to grow homesick, something scared me yet again.